Shloka 3
Gopī-gīta in Separation: The Flute’s Call and Vraja’s Ecstatic Response
श्रीगोप्य ऊचु: वामबाहुकृतवामकपोलो वल्गितभ्रुरधरार्पितवेणुम् । कोमलाङ्गुलिभिराश्रितमार्गं गोप्य ईरयति यत्र मुकुन्द: ॥ २ ॥ व्योमयानवनिता: सह सिद्धै- र्विस्मितास्तदुपधार्य सलज्जा: । काममार्गणसमर्पितचित्ता: कश्मलं ययुरपस्मृतनीव्य: ॥ ३ ॥
śrī-gopya ūcuḥ vāma-bāhu-kṛta-vāma-kapolo valgita-bhrur adharārpita-veṇum komalāṅgulibhir āśrita-mārgaṁ gopya īrayati yatra mukundaḥ
श्रीगोप्य ऊचुः—मुकुन्दो वामबाहुना वामकपोलं निधाय, कोमलाङ्गुलिभिः वेणोः छिद्राणि पिधाय, भ्रूविलासं कुर्वन् मधुरं वेणुं निनादयति। तदा सिद्धैः सह व्योमयानाः देवयोषितो विस्मिताः श्रुत्वा सलज्जाः, काममार्गे चित्तं पतितं ज्ञात्वा कश्मलं ययुः, नीव्यः शिथिलाः सन्तीः नापस्मरन्।
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states that this chapter consists of a collection of statements the gopīs made at various times as they stood in small groups here and there in Vṛndāvana.
FAQs
In this verse, the gopīs vividly describe how Kṛṣṇa rests His cheek on His arm, places the flute to His lips, and makes it sing through the movement of His soft fingers—showing the flute-song as a direct expression of His irresistible divine charm.
Because their love is absorbed in remembering Kṛṣṇa’s every gesture; in separation, His posture, eyebrows, lips, and flute become the focus of their meditation and the language of their devotion.
Use it as a meditation: visualize Kṛṣṇa’s form and flute-playing to steady the mind, transform longing into remembrance (smaraṇa), and deepen loving attention in daily sādhana.